Paul backers float electoral vote flip

At least three Republican electors say they may not support their party's presidential ticket when the Electoral College meets in December to formally elect the new president, escalating tensions within the GOP and adding a fresh layer of intrigue to the final weeks of the White House race.

The electors — all are supporters of former GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul — told The Associated Press they are exploring options should Mitt Romney win their states. They expressed frustration at how Republican leaders have worked to suppress Paul's conservative movement and his legion of loyal supporters.

"They've never given Ron Paul a fair shot, and I'm disgusted with that. I'd like to show them how disgusted I am," said Melinda Wadsley, an Iowa mother of three who was selected a Republican elector earlier this year. She said she believes Paul is the better choice and noted that the Electoral College was founded with the idea that electors wouldn't just mimic the popular vote.

Of course, it’s one thing to speculate about defecting two months before Election Day and quite another to actually follow through on Dec. 17, when the Electoral College meets — especially if there is the prospect that those votes could determine who holds the presidency.

That’s a long shot, but it’s not out of the question. There are Romney win scenarios in which three electoral votes would make a difference between winning the necessary 270 electoral votes or falling short.